Sensory Trail - Jenison, Michigan - Self Guided Walks and Trails on Waymarking.com

Take from Holland Sentinel, Melissa Frick writes:"Catering to touch and sound, the Grand River Park sensory trail is a unique spot for children with special needs to experience the outdoors in a quiet, interactive environment.

Thanks to the work of a Jenison Eagle Scout, the Grand River Park will feature areas specifically catered toward children with special needs.

Theodore “Tas” Stoetzner dedicated his Eagle Scout project to building Ottawa County park system’s first sensory trail, providing children with autism a unique sensory experience in a quiet environment.

The trail includes multiple sensory stations which cater to touch and sound. At two listening stations, kids can identify local birds and their individual calls. At a walk-through station, kids can walk on pine cones, stones and logs to feel different textures. A manual dexterity station lets children dig and find 15 hidden paving stones, each with different textures. There is also a yoga station, where users can stretch their bodies and enjoy their surroundings.

Recognizing the trail would require extra attention and upkeep, Stoetzner recruited the help of a local organization to sign on and adopt the trail. Autism Support of West Shore joined the project, seeing it as an opportunity to create a space for children on the autism spectrum to enjoy the outdoors.

Stoetzner brought a list of ideas and sat down with representatives of the group, collaborating on what aspects would best fit the needs of kids.

Linda Ellenbaas, of Autism Support of West Shore, said this trail is a very unique benefit to West Michigan as there aren’t many trails like these available to cater to the needs of kids with special needs.

“With this trail, the kids can interact with the sensory trail and have a quiet environment to be outside,” Ellenbaas said. “It’s a very unique space for our population, and absolutely an asset to West Michigan.”

Sometimes places considered to be “child-friendly” for play aren’t necessarily best for kids with special needs because they can get overstimulated, she said. The trail allows kids to interact with their senses in a calm environment.

“In the grand scheme of things, for the Ottawa County parks system to take their numerous miles and dedicate just one mile to special needs is such a benefit,” Ellenbaas said.

But the trail isn’t only intended for children with special needs. Stoetzner said he hopes families will come out and enjoy his trail as an opportunity to get outdoors this summer.

“Even though it’s built for kids with autism, it’s a benefit for the whole community,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity for parents to get their kids out of the house in the summer. People should come out here and see what it is.”

Though the planning of the project took about ten months for the 16-year-old, the trail itself only took about two hours to build. With the help of 26 volunteers, Stoetzner managed the construction of each station on the trail.

The hardest part of the entire project: the paperwork.

Stoetzner reached out to local businesses to supply the materials for the trail, such as the lumber he received from Standale Lumber. He also collaborated with researchers from Cornell University to identify bird sounds for his listening station.

The scout project, completed for Jenison Troop #354, is meant to have scouts interact with their community as they display leadership and project management skills. Some scouts will choose to build a bench for a park, like Stoetnzer’s father. But this project was a lot bigger than that, he said.

“We are excited to be able to offer this trail experience for people on the autism spectrum and anyone interested in engaging all of their senses while out enjoying the park,” said Jessica VanGinhoven of the Ottawa County Parks & Recreation Department."

Fee?: 0.00 (listed in local currency) Addtional Website URL: [Web Link] Brochure or Interpretive Signs: Interpretive Plaques/Signs Approximate Time to Finish: Not listed Rate the Walk: Not listed Wherigo Cartridge: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
A picture at the start of the Trail or Walk is greatly appreciated. Additional photos taken during the course of the walk would also be of great benefit.

If there does not appear to be a defined beginning to the trail or walk, pick a logical place (e.g. close to parking) or where information about the walk or trail can be gathered.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   09/23/2018 theHostas visited it